1 Corinthians 13 · Verse 2

1 Corinthians 13:2

And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
1 Corinthians 13:2, King James Version

1 Corinthians 13:2 in other translations

BSBIf I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have absolute faith so as to move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
WEBIf I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but don’t have love, I am nothing.
ASVAnd if I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
YLTand if I have prophecy, and know all the secrets, and all the knowledge, and if I have all the faith, so as to remove mountains, and have not love, I am nothing;
DARBYAnd if I have prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
BBEAnd if I have a prophet's power, and have knowledge of all secret things; and if I have all faith, by which mountains may be moved from their place, but have not love, I am nothing.
WebsterAnd though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

What does 1 Corinthians 13:2 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
2. mysteries--(Ro 11:25; 16:25). Mysteries refer to the deep counsels of God hitherto secret, but now revealed to His saints. Knowledge, to truths long known. faith ... remove mountains--(Mt 17:20; 21:21). The practical power of the will elevated by faith [Neander]; confidence in God that the miraculous result will surely follow the exercise of the will at the secret impulse of His Spirit. Without "love" prophecy, knowledge, and faith, are not what they seem (compare 1Co 8:1, 2; Mt 7:22; Jas 2:14; compare 1Co 13:8), and so fail of the heavenly reward (Mt 6:2). Thus Paul, who teaches justification by faith only (Ro 3:4, 5; Ga 2:16; 3:7-14), is shown to agree with James, who teaches (Jas 2:24) "by works" (that is, by LOVE, which is the "spirit" of faith, Jas 2:26) a man is justified, "and not by faith only."

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 2. And though I have the gift of prophecy. 1Cor 12:10; 1Cor 14:1.

And understand all mysteries. On the meaning of the word mystery, 1Cor 2:7. This passage proves that it was one part of the prophetic office, as referred to here, to be able to understand and explain the mysteries of religion; that is, the things that were before unknown, or unrevealed. It does not refer, to the prediction of future events, but to the great and deep truths connected with religion; the things that were unexplained in the old economy, the meaning of types and emblems; and the obscure portions of the plan of redemption. All these might be plain enough if they were revealed; but there were many things connected with religion which God had not chosen to reveal to men.

And all knowledge. 1Cor 12:8. Though I knew everything. Though I were acquainted fully with all the doctrines of religion; and were with all sciences and arts.

And though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains. Though I should have the highest kind of faith. This is referred to by the Saviour, (Mt 17:20,) as the highest kind of faith; and Paul here had this fact doubtless in his eye.

I am nothing. All would be of no value. It would not save me. I should still be an unredeemed, unpardoned sinner. I should do good to no one; I should answer none of the great purposes which God has designed; I should not by all this secure my salvation. All would be in vain in regard to the great purpose of my existence. None of these things could be placed before God as a ground of acceptance in the day of judgment. Unless I should have love, I should still be lost. A somewhat similar idea is expressed by the Saviour, in regard to the day of judgment, in Mt 7:22,23: "Many will say unto me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils, and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."

(c) "prophecy" 1Cor 14:1 (*) "mysteries" "unknown truths" (a) "move mountains" Mt 17:20 (+) "charity" "love" (b) "I am nothing" Mt 21:19

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy - Though I should have received from God the knowledge of future events, so that I could correctly foretell what is coming to pass in the world and in the Church: - And understand all mysteries - The meaning of all the types and figures in the Old Testament, and all the unexplored secrets of nature; and all knowledge - every human art and science; and though I have all faith - such miraculous faith as would enable me even to remove mountains; or had such powerful discernment in sacred things that I could solve the greatest difficulties, see the note on Mat 21:21, and have not charity - this love to God and man, as the principle and motive of all my conduct, the characteristics of which are given in the following verses; I am nothing - nothing in myself, nothing in the sight of God, nothing in the Church, and good for nothing to mankind. Balaam, and several others not under the influence of this love of God, prophesied; and we daily see many men, who are profound scholars, and well skilled in arts and sciences, and yet not only careless about religion but downright infidels! It does not require the tongue of the inspired to say that these men, in the sight of God, are nothing; nor can their literary or scientific acquisitions give them a passport to glory.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Corinthians 13:1-3

Its excellency represented by its properties and effects; (4-7) and by its abiding, and its superiority. (8-13) Verses 1-3 The excellent way had in view in the close of the former chapter, is not what is meant by charity in our common use of the word, almsgiving, but love in its fullest meaning; true love to God and man. Without this, the most glorious gifts are of no account to us, of no esteem in the sight of God…

Read the full comment on 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 →

1 Corinthians 13:2 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

καὶkaiAndG2532
ἐὰνeanifG1437
ἔχωechōI shall haveG2192
προφητείανprophēteianprophecyG4394
καὶkaiandG2532
εἰδῶeidōunderstand
τὰtatheG3588
μυστήριαmustēriamysteriesG3466
πάνταpantaallG3956
καὶkaiandG2532
πᾶσανpasanallG3956
τὴνtēntheG3588
γνῶσιν,gnōsinknowledge,G1108
καὶkaiAndG2532
ἐὰνeanifG1437
ἔχωechōI shall haveG2192
πᾶσανpasanallG3956
τὴνtēntheG3588
πίστινpistinfaithG4102
ὥστεhōsteso asG5620
ὄρηorēmountainsG3735
μεθιστάναι,methistanaito remove,G3179
ἀγάπηνagapēnloveG26
δὲdehoweverG1161
μὴmēnotG3361
ἔχω,echōmay have,G2192
οὐθένouthenno [thing]G3762
εἰμι.eimiI am.G1510

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 1 Corinthians 13:2

  • 1 John 4:8

    He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

  • 1 Corinthians 13:3

    And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

  • 1 John 4:20-21

    If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

  • Matthew 17:20

    And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

  • Matthew 21:21

    Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.

  • 1 Corinthians 16:22

    If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maran-atha.

  • 1 Corinthians 12:8-10

    For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:

  • 1 Corinthians 14:1-2

    Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy. For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.

  • Galatians 5:16

    This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

  • Ephesians 3:4

    Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)

  • 1 Corinthians 13:1

    Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

  • Colossians 1:26

    Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
I have the.
12:8-10,28; 14:1,6-9; Nu 24:15-24; Mt 7:22,23
understand.
4:1; Mt 13:11; Ro 11:25; 16:25; Eph 3:4; 6:19; Col 1:26; 1Ti 3:16
and though I have all.
12:9; Mt 17:20; 21:21; Mr 11:22,23; Lu 17:5,6
and have.
1,3; 16:22; Ga 5:16,22; 1Jo 4:8,20,21
I am.
3; 7:19; 8:4; Mt 21:19; 2Co 12:11; Ga 6:3

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 1 Corinthians 13:1

    Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

  • 1 Corinthians 13:2

    And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

  • 1 Corinthians 13:3

    And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

Read all of 1 Corinthians 13

1 Corinthians 13:2 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y si tuviese profecía, y entendiese todos los misterios y toda ciencia; y si tuviese toda la fe, de tal manera que traspasase los montes, y no tengo caridad, nada soy.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et si j’ai la prophétie, et que je connaisse tous les mystères et toute connaissance, et que j’aie toute la foi de manière à transporter des montagnes, mais que je n’aie pas l’amour, je ne suis rien.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und wenn ich Prophezeiung habe und alle Geheimnisse und alle Erkenntnis weiß, und wenn ich allen Glauben habe, so daß ich Berge versetze, aber nicht Liebe habe, so bin ich nichts.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et si habuero prophetiam, et noverim mysteria omnia, et omnem scientiam: et si habuero omnem fidem ita ut montes transferam, caritatem autem non habuero, nihil sum.